DA: Pasadena Officers In McDade Shooting Acted In Self-Defense
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Two Pasadena police officers who fatally shot a 19-year-old suspected in a theft investigation acted in self-defense and will not face criminal charges, the District Attorney's office announced Monday.
KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports Kendrec McDade was killed in March after officers responded to a call about an armed robbery.
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Justice System Integrity Division announced its findings after completing an eight-month investigation of McDade's death on March 24.
The District Attorney's Office concluded that officers Jeffrey Newlen and Matthew Griffin acted in lawful self-defense and in defense of others.
Police said that the officers were acting on that information when they shot McDade while he was seen running from the scene and reaching for his waistband in a manner consistent with holding a firearm.
Oscar Carrillo-Gonzalez admitted in April that he had called 911 and said the suspects who had stolen a backpack out of his car were armed so that officers would respond faster to the incident. He later admitted he never saw any weapon on the suspects.
Carrillo-Gonzalez was not charged, but is currently being held on immigration charges for being in the country illegally.
McDade's parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Pasadena Police Department alleging the officers "intentionally" killed the unarmed teen in "callous disregard" for his civil rights.
In a statement following the District Attorney's announcement, Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip L. Sanchez said, "The shooting of Kendrec McDade is tragic for everyone involved. These incidents bear a significant emotional impact on the community and the police department.
"It is my desire that those impacted by this event will continue to heal as we await the final reports from the Office of Independent Review Group (ORIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Administrative Review by the Pasadena Police Department," the statement added.
